How to Create a WordPress Website for Clients
It is quite often that we are approached by friends and family with the task of finding a website for them. Perhaps it is a spouse looking to express their love through a piece of artwork, a business owner looking to expand their online presence or even a teen who has taken an interest in photography and wants to share their art with the world.
The reason these tasks seem so daunting is because of the complexity of creating a wordpress website. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or a hobbyist – creating a wordpress website from scratch is difficult. Especially if you lack the time and resources to do so. That is why we have compiled this guide on how to create a wordpress website for clients. We hope it will assist you in taking the stress out of the process, and allow you to focus on what is important to you – creating amazing artwork!
Step one: Plan out your overall website design
It is important to first consider the layout and design of your website before you start coding. Deciding on a layout and basic color scheme can assist you in creating a cohesive design across all of your marketing materials, including your website. The layout and design of your website will determine the “look” and “feel” of your entire marketing campaign, so it is essential to pay close attention to this step.
The best thing about having a plan is that it allows you to be more selective with your choices. Instead of wasting your time with a website that does not serve your purposes, you can use this opportunity to find the best possible solution for your needs. For example, if you have a limited budget, you might decide to go with a free template or use a popular premade theme to cut down on the development costs. More information on these options can be found in our dedicated article on the best free themes and templates for artists.
Step two: Choose a domain name and hosting
The next step is to choose a domain name and hosting for your website. The former is the address of your website – e.g. portfolio.wpsites.com – while the latter is the space on which you store your website. Once again, having a general sense of what you want your website to look like will help you make the right choice here. If you are not sure, ask a friend or family member who has experience with websites. They can guide you to the right solution for your needs. Alternatively, you can use a website builder to create a professional looking website without needing to know code. We recommend using a premium provider, as it will give you the best experience and ensure that your website looks exactly how you want it to.
Step three: Research the best possible keywords
The final step before you start coding is to research the best possible keywords. Without good keywords, your website will be virtually invisible to anyone searching for your products and services online. Your research should not be limited to one or two keywords. Instead, you should look for keywords that are relevant to your niche, but also popular. When choosing these keywords, you must bear in mind that these are the people who are searching for your products or services. Hence, your choice of keywords should reflect what people in your target audience are searching for.
For example, if you are a fashion designer, but your target audience is other creative individuals, you might want to look for keywords such as fashion, clothing or style. Similarly, if you are a photographer and your target audience is other creative individuals, you might want to look for keywords such as photography, fashion, stylists or makeup artist. Once you have found these keywords, you can use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find the best possible combinations to match your requirements. Doing this will not only improve your SEO and increase traffic to your website, it will also help you become more familiar with the concepts of SEO.
Step four: Create content for your site
The next step is to create content for your site, such as articles, videos or presentations. Ideally, you will want to create enough content to fill a few pages on your site. Having a few pages filled with quality content will significantly increase your site’s credibility among online users. If you are unable to create content for your site yourself, you can always hire a content writer to assist you in creating a blog post for your website. Just be sure to screen them before you hand over any sensitive information. You might also want to consider hiring a virtual assistant to take care of all the little details for you.
It is important to note here that the content you create for your site does not necessarily need to be extraordinary. In fact, you can use content that you have already created for other platforms (e.g. Twitter) and repurpose it for your site. Sometimes the simplest content is the best content – like a “hello world” tutorial. While this tutorial may not seem like much, the fact that it is an original piece of content will provide you with a leg up in the eyes of your audience. Plus, you can always promote future content by linking to this tutorial.
Step five: Test the setup and ensure everything is working properly
The final step before you launch your site is to test the setup and ensure everything is working properly. This includes checking the domain name and hosting for mistakes, as well as testing the SEO settings once everything is done. It is essential to test your website’s layout, design and functionality before you start promoting it. Otherwise, you will be wasting your efforts with a half-finished product.
Ensure that all of your social media accounts are active and connected. You should also connect your website to all of the major search engines, as this is how people will find you online. You can do this via a free Google web analytics account. This account will give you access to a wealth of data, which you can use to track the traffic to your site.
Wrapping up
That is really all there is to create a wordpress website for clients. As we have established, the whole process can be difficult and time consuming. If you are looking for a one-stop-shop for all of your website needs, consider using a premium provider, as they can assist you in creating a secure and high-performing website quickly and efficiently. With that said, don’t be afraid to take your time and do it right.